India and another village

I've been asked to update. In brief, I'm in India now. Most of my time here has been spent with believers, enjoying their company and picking their brains as to what is going on here in Northern India. Amanda, my girlfriend, is here and as you can imagine, it has been great to see her and spend time with her! I'm staying with a couple from her company.

Sunday morning I went to a small local church with Amanda and her partner Jacki. When I say small, there were maybe 15 people. Most of the worship was in Hindi, with one English song thrown in. Even though I couldn't understand the Hindi songs I recognized the word "Yeshua" or Jesus. Just knowing that these people were singing about the same Jesus I sing about filled my heart with joy and while they sang out loud, I sang and praised God in my heart and mind. The pastor opened the word to Hebrews and had some nice things to say. There is a great need for doctrinal and discipleship training for pastors here. Pray that the Lord will send people to equip national pastors and give them the training they need to effectively shepherd and grow the body in India.
After the service we all went to the pastor's home for a snack and cha (chai, spiced tea with milk and lots of sugar). Snack consisted of two large Samosa's and two cups of cha. It was a good time of talking with the pastor and members about the church and their vision for the next few years.
Around 3:30 we picked up a national pastor and went to visit a village. We left paved roads and densely populated areas for bumpy dirt roads surrounded by rice paddies and water buffalo. We came to a community filled with brick structures surrounded by thatch fences. Our first stop was a village pastor's house. We walked through an opening in the thatch fence, around the small brick building he lives in, and met him sitting on a woven bed under a Guava tree. Pastor 1 (P1) chatted w/ pastor 2(P2) in either Hindi or Punjabi - it sounds the same to me. Through the translator, P2 asked us questions and told us about his ministry in the village. He told us that there were a few other Christians in the village but they were mostly nominal Christians and don't like him because he shares his faith and tells others about Jesus. We had a cup of Cha and after being handed an unripe Guava and told to eat it, we went for a stroll through the village.
As we walked people would invite us into their courtyard or house. Most houses in the village had a small wall around the property. Within was an open courtyard area, a small stall for goats or a water buffalo, a kitchen, and one or two room areas to sleep. The first group that invited us in was a Hindu family. They were making a rug and after demonstrating how they make the rug there was some exchange in Punjabi and P1 asked one of the girls to share a story. She told a story about Jesus having power over demons and disease and that He changes lives and shared how He changed her life. She then prayed for the family and then we left. For the next 3 hours we walked through the village and went to houses that either invited us in, or that the pastor knew the people and there was an arranged meeting. We would sit down, someone would bring Cha, there would be dialogue in either Hindi or Punjabi, one of us would tell a story or a testimony of who Jesus was and how he changed our life and P1 would translate. There was always a crowd since we look quite different. The people would listen intently and rap a talkative child on the head to silence him. After the story, P1 would continue to translate as one of us prayed for the family and their needs, both physically and spiritually. They thanked us and we walked on.
During those few hours we went to about 10 homes and had way too much tea - My count by the end of time was 6 cups. In those 10 homes we visited with Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians - only the first and last homes were Christian. As others were sharing stories I would look at individuals in the crowd of people and pray for them. I knew that I wasn't going to sit down with them and lead them to the Lord, but that maybe by our being there and them hearing a story about Jesus, He would speak to their heart. That He would put within them a desire to know Him and that they will go to their neighbor and inquire more about this man Jesus the foreigners spoke of so highly. I know that God will use our feeble attempts for His glory. I pray that stories from His word will continue to be shared in that small village and that God will strengthen and empower the believers there to continue laboring for the Kingdom.